Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Xie Shichen in dated 1548.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Ming dynasty painting.

Artwork

Untitled

Xie Shichen , 1548

Untitled is an ink painting by the Ming dynasty painting artist Xie Shichen. It dates from 1548 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 52.177.20
Credit line: Bequest of Katherine S. Dreier, 1952

About this work

Technique & Style

The silk support shows localized creases and minor pigment fading, yet the overall condition remains structurally stable.

The painting is executed in ink and colors on silk, mounted as a hanging scroll. Its dimensions are 182.6 cm in height and 106.4 cm in width, consistent with Ming-period silk scroll formats. Handling emphasizes fluid ink washes for recession and textured mineral pigments for foliage and architecture, while the composition orchestrates layered mountain ranges with receding spatial intervals. The silk support shows localized creases and minor pigment fading, yet the overall condition remains structurally stable.

History & Provenance

The hanging scroll titled Untitled was created by the artist Xie Shichen in 1548. Executed in ink and color on silk, the work originates from China and depicts a landscape scene. It is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The hanging scroll titled Untitled by Xie Shichen is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work, created in 1548, is classified within the museum's paintings department as a Chinese landscape rendered in ink and color on silk. While the provided sources confirm the artwork's current location and physical dimensions, they do not specify a unique inventory or accession number for this piece. Additionally, no exhibition history is recorded in the available documentation.

Overview

Created in 1548, this hanging scroll by Xie Shichen presents a quiet landscape rendered in ink and subtle color on silk. The composition stretches across a vertical format, inviting the eye to travel through a sparsely treed terrain that recedes into distant mountains.

Subject & Meaning

The scene depicts a tranquil natural setting where a lone figure appears far in the background, providing a sense of scale and emphasizing the vastness of the environment. The restrained palette and gentle atmosphere suggest contemplation and a harmonious relationship between humanity and the landscape.

Untitled, Urakami (Uragami) Gyokudō 浦上玉堂

Artist & collection

Artist

Xie Shichen

Chinese, 1487–ca. 1567

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art

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